What are opioids?

Opioids are a group of drugs that includes products such as morphine, heroin, methadone, fentanyl and oxycondone. This group of drugs is often prescribed to manage pain. Opioids can cause euphoria (feeling of being high), which increases the potential for the drugs to be used improperly. Opioids include three categories of pain-relieving drugs:

• Natural opioids (also called opiates) which are derived from the opium poppy, such as morphine and codeine
• Semi-synthetic opioids, such as the prescription drugs hydrocodone and oxycodone and the illegal drug heroin
• Synthetic opioids, such as the prescription drugs methadone, tramadol, and fentanyl

Fentanyl is 50 to […]